Many members know Dr. Edward Auyang as the “SAGES Whiskey Guy,” whose hobby has become an unofficial part of the annual meeting’s wellness activities, and whose Facebook group Great Whiskies of Surgery has 2000-plus surgeon members from more than 30 countries.
But the Albuquerque-based Dr. Auyang, who is a Professor, Chief of the Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, and the Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs at the University of New Mexico, is also a busy SAGES committee guy, who got his start on the SAGES Guidelines committee when he was an MIS fellow. Since then, he’s also been active on Publications, Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery and the Reimagining the Practice of Surgery Task Force. Dr. Auyang is currently on the Program and Foregut committees, and has just joined the Ergonomics Task Force as a Co-Chair.
Dr. Auyang says, “Bringing the surgical community together has been one of my biggest joys, in addition to the classical academic aspects of SAGES. With the Foregut Committee, I’m able to use my clinical expertise to help share relevant and up-and-coming subjects with SAGES membership. Our contributions to the Video Based Atlas should help learners at all levels.”
With a background in biomedical engineering, a masters in Environmental Health, Ergonomics and Biomechanices, and training to be an OSHA inspector, he adds, “I’m looking forward to working with the Ergonomics Task Force. I was surprised to see how little attention ergonomics and human factors have been given in health care. I hope my background and expertise can help us develop tools to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in our profession.”
While in medical school at the Ohio State University, Drs. Scott Melvin, Brad Needlman, Dean Mikami and Jeff Hazey helped develop Dr. Auyang’s interest in minimally invasive surgery. He joined SAGES early in his residency on the recommendation of his chair and mentor Dr. Nat Soper, who touted the SAGES meeting as the place where the latest research and techniques in minimally invasive surgery were being presented. He says, “I was doing research in Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) and it’s where I presented my first podium presentation. After my first meeting in Philadelphia in 2008, I was hooked.”
In addition to Dr. Soper, Drs. Eric Hungness and Alex Nagle both had pivotal roles in Dr. Auyang joining SAGES and growing his MIS skills. During his fellowship at University of Washington, he also credits Drs. Carlos Pellegrini, Brant Oelschlager, Andrew Wright, Saurabh Khandelwal, and Rebecca Petersen for helping fine tune his skills in MIS and foregut surgery.
“I’m proud to say that all of these people have remained colleagues and friends to this day. Additionally, there are multiple SAGES mentors who have not directly trained me and are too numerous to mention, but they know who they are!”
“Hands-down, the SAGES community is unlike that of any other society I belong to. The camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation are on a different level. Not only is SAGES where the latest and greatest is shared in general and gastrointestinal surgery, but it’s also a very forward-thinking society and my fellow members are some of the most intelligent, approachable and fun people I know—adding who can say they crowd surfed at surgical society Sing-Off?”
Dr. Auyang hopes to continue providing surgical content and training to both trainees and practicing physicians, along with continuing to grow the society, inspire surgeons to join SAGES, and provide his whiskey expertise.
And yes, he does have other hobbies, including playing guitar alongside SAGES member musicians Drs. John Romanelli, David Earle, Jake Greenberg and Ramon Berguer at the annual meeting.
Something members may not know: Dr. Auyang is a Star Wars fanatic and plays a tabletop game called Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures. He’s also competed in regional and national tournaments, and even the World Championships!
